Schistosoma mansoni infection prevalence and associated risk factors among schoolchildren in Demba Girara, Damot Woide District of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence and associated risk factors of Schistosoma mansoni (S. mansoni) infection among schoolchildren at a village in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among primary schoolchildren. A total of 384 randomly selected study subjects provided stool samples for parasitological examination by Kato-Katz and Formalin-Ether concentration techniques. Secondary parasitological data were obtained from Health Center Laboratory to see the previous history of S. mansoni infection in the area. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16. RESULTS: From the total children examined, 85.4% were found positive for at least one helminth infection. S. mansoni infection (81.3%) was the most prevalent and the prevalence of STH was 32%. Moderate and heavy infection intensities were only observed in S. mansoni infections. The overall heavy intensity of infection was 56.4%. Contact to Bisare stream was the most important factor for S. mansoni infection (OR 3.9) followed by herding cattle near the stream (OR 2.527). Males were twice more likely to get the infection than females (OR 1.923). Analysis of secondary parasitological data showed that S. mansoni infection was a leading helminthic infection over the past years. CONCLUSIONS: The present study found a higher intensity and prevalence of S. mansoni infection in a rural village of Wolaita Zone. Therefore, appropriate integrated control and prevention measures need to be implemented in the study area.